Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty 宋太祖

宋太祖赵匡胤（927年－976年11月14日），中国北宋王朝的建立者，庙号太祖，汉族，涿州（今河北）人。出身军人家庭，高祖赵朓，祖父赵敬，父赵弘殷。948年，投后汉枢密使郭威幕下，屡立战功。951年，郭威称帝，建立后周，赵匡胤任禁军军官，周世宗时官至殿前都点检。周世宗柴荣死后，恭帝即位。建隆元年（960年），他以"镇定二州"的名义，谎报契丹联合北汉大举南侵，领兵出征，发动陈桥兵变，黄袍加身，代周称帝，建立宋朝，定都开封。

Zhao Kuangyin (927-Nov. 14th, 976) was the Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty. He was of the Han nationality, and was a native of Zhuozhou (now Hebei province). His temple name was Taizu, and he was the founder of the Northern Song Dynasty. He was born to a military family. His ancestor was Zhao Tiao, his grandfather was Zhao Jing and his father was Zhao Hongyin. In 948, he went to Guo Wei, a senior general of the Later Han Dynasty, and served under him, wher he had many successful military exploits. In 951, when Guo Wei rebelled and set up the Later Zhou Dynasty, he was assigned as a Chief of the Palace commander. During the reign of Emperor Shizong of Zhou, he became the grand commander of the Chief of the Palace troops. After the death of Emperor Shizong of Zhou, Emperor Gong took the throne. In 960 he reported the false information that along with the Northern Han, Khitan was invading to the south. Therefore he was permitted to go out to battle with the imperial military forces. There he launched the Military Mutiny at Chenqiao, and succeeded in seizing the throne and set up the Song Dynasty, selecting Kaifeng as the capital.

中文名：赵匡胤

Chinese name: Zhao Kuangyin

别名：庙号：太祖

Other name: Temple name: Taizu

民族：汉族

Nationality: Han

出生地：涿州（治今河北涿县）

Birth place: Zhuozhou (now Zhuoxian county of Hebei province)

出生日期：公元927年

Year of birth: 927

逝世日期：公元976年

Year of death: 976

职业：皇帝，军事家，政治家

Profession: emperor, strategist, and statesman

主要成就：建立宋朝

Major achievement: Establishing the Song Dynasty